36 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



fact has been urged as an objection to the sowing of seed. The 

 answer is, that this is distinctly a grazier's grass. In all the 

 most celebrated natural sheep pastures of the country its value 

 for grazing is shown by the extraordinary growth in August, 

 when other grasses are giving up. 



On lawns and pleasure-grounds the fine evergreen grass 

 is especially prized ; and in deer parks Dogstail should be 

 liberally used, for deer are, if possible, more fond of it than 

 sheep. 



Cynosurus thrives in compact soil and will endure con- 

 ditions under which few other grasses can exist. The roots 

 are hard, and as they penetrate deep the plant is naturally 

 adapted for dry soils, and can withstand drought. Still I have 

 seen it growing luxuriantly on tenacious clays, especially near 

 the sea. Cynosurus forms a conspicuous proportion of the rich 

 pastures in Romney Marsh and other low-lying parts of Kent, 

 and it is remarkable that a grass which does so well in such 

 situations should also find a congenial home on thin upland 

 pastures. On dry loams with a chalk subsoil seed should be 

 sown freely. In fact, there is hardly any soil in the kingdom 

 for which the plant is unsuited. FuU maturity is not reached 

 until the second or third year. 



The following description of the foliage wiU aid in deter- 

 mining the presence of Crested Dogstail in pastures. Lower 

 sheaths yellowish white ; leaves tapering from base to tip ; 

 under surface of leaves glossy ; young leaves folded on the 

 mid-rib ; ligule truncate. 



At Rothamsted and Kidmore Cynosurus cristatus appeared 

 to thrive equally well on the unmanured plots and on the plots 

 dressed with mineral manures alone. The plant manifested 

 antipathy for ammonia salts, and an appreciation of nitrate of 

 soda. 



For illustration, description, and chemical analysis, see 

 pages 156 and 157. 



